This year's Design Showcase, produced by Home and Woman's Day Special Interest Publications, gives renovation-minded homeowners lots to think about. It features cabinet styles, wood tones, and finishes from Merillat, whose creative team paired with designer Ingrid Leess to fill a kitchen and bath with innovative ideas (some using input from the American Hardwood Information Center). Arresting colors pique excitement throughout.

Styled by: and Designed by Ingrid Leess; Photographer: John Gould Bessler

To learn more of the showcase's secrets, we recently spoke with design mastermind Ingrid Leess and her partners from Merillat's team, Paul Radoy and Nellie Ondrovick.

INGRID: W e imagined our project as being part of a reclaimed barn in a country setting and, to bring a rustic outdoor feeling to the spaces, we chose contrasting colors, textures, and materials. Different cabinet wood tones were used to identify specific zones and also make the spaces themselves more interesting.

PAUL: In the kitchen there are actually five work zones, including the cart at the far end of the island. Located near French doors leading out to a presumed deck or patio, it would be great for storing gear for grilling in its utensil drawers. A nd being mobile, it could be used as additional work space anywhere within the kitchen.

NELLIE: The cart is just one of those hidden-till-needed features—like the 6-inch-wide pullout pantries tucked under the cooktop, the wall ovens, and the coffee maker. There's also a drawer shelf in the beverage area that pulls out when you are uncorking wine and pushes back when you're done, plus wide, deep drawers under the banquette for seasonal storage.

PAUL: To get as much storage as possible into the 315-squarefoot kitchen, we utilized space in unexpected ways, in areas that would otherwise go unused.

INGRID: The remodeled-barn feeling extends into the 185-square-foot bath, with that sliding barn-style privacy door and those cypress planks on the wall. The stain tone creates such a strong graphic look, and that color really makes it pop. The wall-to-wall vanity, installed some 18 inches off the floor, makes the space look very clean and modern, despite the many rustic touches.

NELLIE: To create that glass-topped counter, we built a long, shallow wooden box, put a layer of foam on the bottom, then added stones from a local garden center. Y ou could do the same thing with seashells, of course, or photos or wallpaper, even paperweights or watches, if you're a collector. I n a children's bath, you might even use marbles.

PAUL: You have to use tempered glass, but keep in mind that holes for the plumbing must be drilled before the glass is tempered. Y ou can't drill the glass afterward. Vessel sinks, of course, work best with this countertop feature.

NELLIE: The look of the tile shower, with its horizontal dark brown stripes, mimics the vanity, which is topped with a dark brown band. There are even narrow, dark bands on the contrasting-toned pendant lights.

INGRID: Overall, what we felt was important was balancing charm with rusticity, and using vibrant colors to play off the natural elements—wood, stone, tile. A nd varying the woods and finishes gave the cabinets a custom look. People may have a love of nature and want to bring the outdoors in, but they also want convenience and accessibility. That's mainly what we hoped to achieve.